Gearshift control mechanism



y 1941- J. R. MCCORDIC GEARSHIFT CONTROL MECHANISM "Filed March 1, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet .l

1NVENTO R 7 26 )5? M'd'ar/zc.

4W)MPZ5LM ATTORNEYS.

y 1941- J. R. McCORDIC 42,038

GEARSHIFT CONTROL MECHANISM I Filed March 1, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NVENTOR A TTORNE Y5.

J. R. M coRDlc 2,242,038

Filed March 1, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nlay 13, 1941.

GEARSI lIFT CONTROL MECHANISM May 13, 1941. J. R. M CORDIC GEARSHIFT CONTROL MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 1, 1939 J' 67 IIIIIIIIIIIIIO' [4 An I 11v VENTOR 5/ p a E A TTORNE Y5- M y 1941- J. R. M CORDIC 2,242,038

GEARSHIFT CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 1, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Tfll) [N VENTOR 722765 F M'rJ'c.

BY 1 fi/MYM ATTORNEIQ? Patented May 13, 1941 James R. McCordic, Royal Oak, Mich,

Chrysler Corporation, corporation of Delaware Highland Park,

assignorto f Mich, a

Application March 1, 1939, Serial No. 259,219

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in control mechanism for variable speed transmission mechanism. I

More particularly, he invention pertains to ,improved gear shifting control apparatus for motor vehicle transmissions which is adapted to be mounted on the steering column structure of the vehicle. g

The principal obiectof the invention is to pro- Q vide, in a steering column mounted gear shift control mechanism having a manually actuated shift lever movable in two transversely connected paths about the longitudinal axis'of the column, means for normally maintaining the manually actuated shift lever in one of said paths. An additional object is to provide means associated with the transmission rail shifting member for cons antly urging said member into engagement with one of the rails whereby said member is always engaged with said one rail when the control lever is in the; neutral position.

A further object is to provide a transmission control mechanism of this type in which the shift from lowspeed to second speed may be accomplished, by a forward motion of the shift lever about the longitudinal axisof the steering column, and the shift from second peed to high speed may be accomplished by a backward motion of said lever about said axis, both of said transmission speed changes being accomplished without any movement of said lever about an axis transversely disposed with respect to said column.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show two of the many possible embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a vehicle showing. a transmission control mechanism embodyingthe invention- Fig. 21s a view of the steeringcolumn and-gear shift lever illustrating the paths of movement of said lever in shifting the transmission gears.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary. longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

I Fig. 6 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. i

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line88 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 9but showing certain parts of the structure disclosed therein in a changed 'pos'ition.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line l'I'--|l of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical sectional view takeno'n the line l2--i2 of Fig. 11. I I

' Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line l3-|3 of Fig. 12. v

Fig. 14 isa fiiagmentary sectional view of the top of the steering column showing a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 15 is a" fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the control'mechanism at the bottom of the steering column in the modified form. Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line l6-|B of Fig. 15. 1

In the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of the invention in a motor vehicle drive including I a unitary power plant having an engine l0, clutch Ii and transmission mechanism, generally designated by "the numeral l2,-a drive shaft H extends rearwardly'from the transmission to the rear wheels (not shown) of the vehicle.

The transmission 12 includes a housing, l5 into which extends a. driving shaft l6, having a gear I! meshed with'a gear i8 fixed on a countershaft' I Swhich is journaled at its opposite ends in apertures in the end walls of the housing IS. Thedriven shaft l4 extends into the housing l5 and has a gear 20 journaled on its internal end portion. Aslidable gear 2|, disposed on the right side of the gear 20 and splined on the shaft I4, is provided with a shifter fork receiving collar 22. Formed on the adjacent sides of the gears I1 and 20 are hub portions which are provided with external clutch teeth 26 and 21 respectively. A shiftable clutch member 23 is splined on the shaft H at a location between the hub portion ofthe gears l1 and 20 and provided with'internal clutch teeth 26' and 21' with which the clutch teeth 26 and 21 respectively are adapted to be selectively meshed. A direct-drive setting of the gears may be produced by shifting the clutch member 23 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 11, to bring the clutch teeth 26 and 26 into mesh. When the clutch member 23 isshifted to the right, the teeth 21 and 21 are meshed, thereby holding the gear 20 against rotation relative to the shaft it. The gear is permanently meshed with a gear 28 on the countershaft 19 by which the gear .20 and shaft ll are driven to establish a second speed drive. Low speed and reverse settings of the transmission may be established by shifting the 7 which arelocated at the upper open extremity.; of-

the latter. Therail 3511s provided with a downwardly extending fork- 38 which engages the coliar 22 of the gear 2| and the rail is provided with a downwardly extending fork 88 which is engaged in' a groove of the clutch member '18.

The fork 88 is'provided with a pair of spaced lugs 4| between which is'receivable afork and rail 88. e That portion of the control apparatus which is directly connected. with the transmission mechanism housing is mounted one. cov'er'll which is provided for closing the upper open end of the-transmissionhousing. The cover 81- includes a crowned central portion having ope posite side wall portions extending longitudinally tubular steering shaft 68 which is provided with 'a steering wheel,' generally designated by the numeral 84. The steering shaft 88 extends longitudinally of the steering column and is centrally located withthe longitudinal .axis thereof.

A tubular" shaft 85 extends longitudinally of the steering column 53 and is axially, slidably and rotatively supported by the steering column a structure. Mounted in the upper open end of grail shifting finger, hereinafter described, having a part which is receivable in a notch 4i'-in the of the transmission in which var'eformed regis- V tering openings at and 4s.

a shaft 42 extending transversely of cover 81 isfliournaled atits 'ends in-the openings 44 and 48. The shaft 42 has an external end-porrtlon protrudingfromfthe cover member 81 on swhich a lever 48 isnon-rotatablyfixed. A collar. 481s disposed within the cover and axially] slidably mounted on the intermediate portion of the shaft 42 which is provided withsplines 41 for holding the collar andvshaft against relative rotation. ,The collar 48 'carries the rail shifting finger 48, heretofore referred to, which is pro-v vided with an intermediate lobe portion 49 that registersvwith and is adapted to be received, by 'thev notch 4| of the rail-Stand a lobe portion 58. that registers with'and isreceivable between the lugs. of the shifter fork 38. A coil spring 5| bears between'the right wall of. the cover 31 and the right extremity of the collar 48, as viewed in Fig. 12, for normally yieldably urging the-collar. to the left so as to retain the rail shifting finger 48 inoperative engagement with the rail 88 and its shifter fork 89. The collar 46 may be vmoved rightwardly, as, viewed in Fig. 12, to bring the end lobe 88 between the lugs 4| carried by the'rail 85 and shifter fork 88.

Apparatus for manually controlling the collar 48 may be mounted at any location in. the. driv- ,ers compartmentof the vehicle within conveniev ent reach, of the driver. In the form of the invention illustrated, the manual control apparatus comprises agear shift lever 5| whichj is trol lever 5| has akn'ob 84 on its outer end. and

- ment, which is disposed between wear plates 81 mounted onthejopposite side walls of an the tubular shaft 65 s a sleeve as which is] welded, or otherwise suitably secured, thereto. and which extends beyond the upper extremity of thls shaft. A'lcollarv 6'! is concentrically .mounted onthe portion of the sleeve 88 which extends beyond the shaft 85 and detachably and non-rotatably held thereon by a nut 68 threaded on the right end portion of the sleeve 66 as viewed in Fig. 3. The "collar 81 is provided with diametrically opposed bosses 89, shown in Fig. '4,

in which are formed slots 18 for receiving the apertured end portions of the prongs of the fork 55." The fork 55 of the lever ii is pivotallyattached to the bosses 89 of this collarby pins Ii extending through registering apertures in the' bosses and prongs of the fork respectively. The

enlarged portion 58 of, the lever Siserves as' a fulcrum about which the lever-may be oscillated in a vertical plane, as viewed in Fig. 2, to shift the shaft 85 axially of the steering column in respectively opposite directions. The shaft '88 7 may be rotated about its axis which is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the steering col-' umn by shifting the lever 5| upwardly or downwardly from its full line position shown in Fig.

2 and during this action ofthe lever, theen larged' portion 56 thereof slidesi'ree-on the bearing surfaces Elwith which the walls'of'the slot 58 in the casing 521 are lined. V

Axial movementof the' shaft 85 is transmitted to the collar 48 bya Bowden wire assembly gen erally designated by 'the numeral I2 in Fig. 1.

One end of the Bowden wire assembly II-is mounted on' the lower element of a'separable coupling 13 by which an extension 14' of the I steering column, housing 82 is supported. The

' it hasa forked inner, extremity 55 disposed witharcuate slot 58 formed in the casing 52 through whichthe' lever'extends. The enlarged p tion 1 88 of the control lever has a bore 58 in which a spring-pressed detent. 80 is disposed. V The detent 88 is adaptedto engage in an aperture 8i formed in the wall of the slot 58 when the lever BI is centrally located with respect to, the opposite ends of this slot.

plug is attachedato the plunger 18.

lower element of the coupling 1371s provided with an apertured flange I5 in whicha metal tube" Slidably is fixed by a threaded fitting. 11. mounted in the tube I6 is aplunger I8 which is normally urged rightwardly,. as viewed in Fig.1 5, by-a coil spring I9 bearing between the plunger and a plug 80 fixed in the left end of the tube 16. A flexible cable 8| extending through the The plunger 18 bears against a plate 82 which is nonrotatably fixed on the lower extremity'of. the shaft 65 and which extends outwardly of the coupling'l3 through any opening 83 in the side thereof which is substantially twice as wide as the, thickness of the plate 82-for accommodating shifting movement of the plate inun'ison with the axial movement ofethe-shaft 65.

The oppositev end of the Bowden wire assembly extends to the cover 31 of the transmission housing to which it is attached bya sleeve 84 disposed in an aperture formed in the cover .structure. The sleeve 84 has areduced outer end portion and an adjacent shoulder which bears against a plate 86 having an aperture therein through which the reduced part of the sleeve extends. The plate-86 is firmly clamped to the transmission cover by a cup screw 81 threaded in an aperture therein.

p 2,242,038 7 3 I Fixed to the endof the flexible cable 8| adjatilting of the lever about an axis extending'transcent the transmission mechanism is a plunger 88 versely to the length of the steering column. which is slidably mounted in the sleeve 84 and It will be noted that the lever will normally which abuts'against a flange 88 formed integral rest in the lower of the two paths indicated by with the collar 46. The spring 5| which operates the dotted lines in Fig. 2 because of i the influupon the collar ,46 normally urges the flexible ence of the spring 19 (Fig. 5) which constantly cable toward the plate 82 of the shaft 65 and urges plate 82 and shaft 65 axially upwardly of thereby urges the shaft upwardly so as to retain the steering column. This is true regardless of the lever 5| in the full line position shown in the position of the shift collar 46 because the Fig. 3 with its driver-manipulated end in its Bowden cable'88 is not connected thereto. lowermost position. When the lever is so dis- In describing the operation of the device, let posed, the finger 48 0! the collar 48,15 engaged it be assumed that the motor vehicle is at rest in the notch 4| of the shifter rail 86 and oscilwith the motor running and the gear shifter lever latory movement of the lever 5| about the Ion 5| in the neutral position as shown in Fig. 2.5; gitudinal axis of the steering column may be em- In starting the vehicle, the operator depresses ployed to rotate the shaft'42 and collar 46 thereon the clutch pedal in the usual manner and grasps in order to bring the transmission'into either a the knob 54 of the lever 5| and rocks the lever second and high speed drive setting. I about the fulcrum 56 longitudinally upwardly of Rotative movement of the shaft 65 is transthe-steering column This action forces shaft mitted to the shaft 42 and collar by a link 86 65 and plate 82 downwardly. thereby forcing pivotally attached at one end to an extension 8| plunger 18 downwardly. This downward moveof the plate 82 and pivotally attached at its; other; ment of plunger-I8 is transmitted to the pl n er end to the crank arm 43 on the shaft 42. 3 I 88 by means of'the cable 8| and collar 46 (Figs. Referring now to Fig. 2, when the control 1 v r- 9 and 10) is moved longitudinally along the shaft 5| is in its above-described lower positiommove- 42 against the pressure of sp e I ment thereof in a counterclockwise direction is then pulled backwardly toward the driver which about the axis of the steering column causes t e action rotates shaft 66 and plate 82 clockwise of shifter rail 86 to be moved toward the rightas the steering colu t b moving a 3 forviewed in Fig. 11 to mesh clutch teeth 21 with wardly of the transmission through the interclutch teeth 21 thereby establishing a second 0 mediary of the link 96. Movement of the arm 43. speed ratio setting of the transmission. Clockforwardly rotates shaft 42 and the collar 46 which wise movement of lever 5| causes rail 36 to be is splined to the shaft 42 in a clockwise direction. moved toward the left as viewed in Fig. 11 to thereby shifting rail with which collar 46 is engage teeth 26' with teeth 26, therebyestablishnow .operatively connected by means of the part ing a high speed (or direct drive) setting or the 35 0 th reby meshing the gear 2| with the gear 29 transmission. 4 I to establish low speed drive through the trans- Upward movement ofthe' driver-operated end m En flzement of the clutch will now of the lever 5| causes the shaft 65 to be moved cause the vehicle to be driven in low 88811 Th downwardly thereby urging the plunger 13 .i knob 54 is now in first speed position as indicated wardly of its tube 16 and urging the plunger 88 diagrammatically in Fi 2 and release of this of the Bowden wire assembly outwardly of its knob by the driver will allow it and the lever 5| tube 84. This movement of the plunger 88 shifts to m v lon i inally downwardly of the steerthe collar 46 rightwardly, as viewed in Fig. 12, ing column to the high speed position asshown to engage the lobe 58 on the lower end of the i 2, the P n er 88 ing Wi hdrawn from finger 18 of the collar, between the lugs which contact with the part" of-the collar 46 by the are carried by the shifter .rail .35 and fork 88. spring I wh h r tsthro gh the plunger 18 When the lever 5| is moved in a counterclockwise again t thevplate 62 her y moving Shaft 55 1D- direction from its full line position shown in Fig. wardly of t e' t 'e ine c lumn.

2 to the dotted line position 92 while the driver- It l thus be seen t'the hift from low operated end of this lever is in its uppermostposi-. o first speed to second or i m te sp ed tion, the shifter rail 35 is moved rightwardly as may be made y a Straight forward movement viewed in Fig. 11 to establish a reverse setting 0! the level AS 800 a the knob 54 has of the transmission mechanism. Clockwise movem ve from the high s ee po ition as shown ment of the lever 5| from its full line position in Fig; 2 to neutral Position, r will have shown in Fig. 2 to its dotted line position moves 55 been moved out 0! meshing e a me t w th the shifter rail 35 ieftwardly as viewed in Fig.'l1 8 29 a d i e ail 35 will be in neutral to establish a low speed ratio setting of the trans- (Position. l r 6 will then be released from mission mechanism. contact with rail 35 and will returnto the The shifter rails 35 and 36 are releasably held Position wn in F 9 under the influence of in an adjusted position by spring-pressed detents the spring 5|. Movement of the lever 5| formounted in sockets .96, of the transmission wardly into Second Speed P o Will rock the in [5, These t nts r adapted to regshaft 42 in a counterclockwise direction and ister with and extend into depressions 81 formed mesh clutch teeth with clutch teeth 21 o in the lower surfaces of the shifter rails, as illusestablish second or intermediate speed ive t t d in Figs, 11 1,13, ('35 through the transmission. It will be understood During operation of the selector lever'5l, it is that s s t v ment may be accomthus movable in two transversely connected paths Plished Very q y and positively b cau e of the about the longitudinal axis of the steering 001- f e t t e lever 5| i moved o wa d ynway umn. This lever may be moved from one of these from the. driver only without the necessity of paths to another about an axis extending trans- 7' e ng through the cross-over which connects versely of the longitudinal axis of the steering h two pa h of ovement of the lever 5| as is column. Oscillatory movement of the lever about usual in conventional-shifting mechanism. The the longitudinal axis of the steering column efsmoothness and rapidi y of the shiftin m vefects operation of a selected gear ratio establishment from first to second speed is facilit y ing element which is selected for operation by 5 my novel arrangement 01 p Be u e 1 the spring'ii' is'required to move the-collar 46 only '5 during the'shiftfrom first to second speed. "Because'spring 5| is relieved of the frictional load, o'f'the plungers I8, and 88 and theshaft ilby the action of the spring-l9, a yery rapid and desirable "snap over" action of the collar 40 results.

' The shift from' second speed to high speed driving'of the transmission is accomplished by moving the lever 5|; backwardiy into the high speed position shown in'Fig.-2. Thisn'esults in a clockwise movement of the shaft 42 which meshes the clutch teeth 26' with clutch teeth 26.

Figs. 14 to 16 inclusive show a slightly modifled form of my invention which differs from is provided in place of thespring 19. Spring I04 surrounds shaft 65 and; bears at its lower.- end against the backing .member 65', which. is fixed to theouter steering column tube 63. The

' upper end of the spring bears against the hub 5 69 and moves with the shaft. It will thus be seen that-spring I04 tends to maintain the shaft] ii at theextremity of its upward movement longitudinally of the steering column, thereby maintaining the lever 5| .in alower. path of v 30 movement as indicated in Fig. 2. 0 The plunger 18' which replaces. plunger '18 is positively connected to the plate by the reduced extension I00 which extends through a slot I0l which is provided in the plate 82 in Fig. 16. The plunger I8 is loosely secured to the plate alby means of the nut I02, slot IOI accommodating rotative movement of. the plate with respect to plunger 18-- V Y i The operation of the modificationfjust .de- 40 scribed is exactly the same as that previously described for the form ofthe invention shown inFigs. 1 to 12 inclusive. Lever Sl will normally I be maintainedin the path indicated in Fig. 2 and must be lifted upwardly against the pressure of spring I04to efl'ect reverse or first speed drive through the transmission. As soon as reverse or first speed drive setting of thetransmission has been effected; release of leverv 5i will allow the spring I04 to move said lever to second or high position indicated inFig. 2 as the case maybe. Plungers 18' and 00 will be returned along with shaft 65 and plate 82 because of the connection IIO-I02 between plungers I8 and plate 82.

' Both formsof the invention permit the very desirable"snap-over action of the collar} 46 which allows the shift from first to second speed" to' be accomplished rapidly and smoothly by straight forward-movement of the shift .lever.

'By eliminating the necessity for the vehicle 0 7 w v will rotate said shaft and rocking movement driver to have to feel his way through the central bar of the H-shape path which connects the arcuate paths of movement of the shift lever,

the. shifting of the gears in the transmission is greatly simplified and the possibility of danger 5 to the transmission by accidental shifting into reverse after the car has started movingforwardly is virtuallyeliminated.

- Although but two of the many possible embodimentsof my invention have been described, it 'is not desired to'limit the invention except as deflned in the claims appended hereto.

1. In a power transmission, a plurality of speed ratio controlling devices operable, to effect selective drivethrough the transmission, a driver.

operated selector element adapted for shifting movements in transversely connected paths of corresponding directions to aplurality of 'sta-' tions of-transmission control for effecting opera-i; tion ofsaid speed ratio controlling" devices,

means for, mountingsaidj selector element for swinging movement about a common axis along said paths of corresponding directions, said mounting means including a fulcrum support;

accommodating rocking movement of an end,

portion of said selector element in the generalf direction of. said axis, means'operating in re-' sponseto shift ofsaid selector elementfor -effecting operation of said speed ratio controlling devicesand means for yieldably maintaining said selector element in one ofsaid'paths regardless of the position of said speed ratio controlling devices. thatpreviouslydescribediin'that a spring I04 20 2. ,In a motor vehicle having a variable speed power transmission provided with a plurality of speed ratio controlling devices operable to eifect selective drives through the transmission, a

driver operated selector element adapted for to-' and-fro shifting movements lna pair of parallel, paths, movement in one ofsaid paths effecting eitherlow speed or reverse'setting of said ratio controlling devices, movem'entin the other of said paths efiecting either second speed orhigh speed setting of said ratio controlling devices and means for yieldably maintaining said selector element in the latter of aid paths regardless of; the: setting of said ratio controlling devices.

3. Gear shifting apparatus for a motor vehicle provided with a steering column and a power transmission comprising, a shift lever, means for mounting said lever on said column for 'oscilla' .tion about the longitudinal axis lthereofj'in ,a

plurality of parallel paths,v means connecting" provided with a steering column and a power transmiss'ion comprising, a shift lever, means for mounting said leveron said column for'oscillati'on about the'longitudinal axis thereof in a plurality of parallelpaths and-for rocking movement. about an axis extendingv transversely to said longitudinal axis, a shaft operatively associated with said column and connected withsaid lever and so arranged that oscillation 'of said lever about the longitudinal axis of said column 1 about said transverse axiswill shift said shaft longitudinally, means connecting said shaft with said power transmission for transmitting rotative movements of said shaft, separate means connect ing said shaft with said power transmission for transmitting longitudinal I movements of said shaft and'means associated with the last named 'means for constantly urging said shaft to the extremity of its movement in one direction. 15.111 a motor vehicle havinga power transmission and a *steering' column, apparatus for shifting gears 'in said transmission comprising a lever rockably mounted on said column, a shaft disposed longitudinally of. said column and con nected to said lever, a plate fixed to the lower end of said shaft, a shifter element in said transmission, a Bowden cable assembly including a plunger at one end bearing against said plate and a plunger at the opposite end bearing against said shifter element, means for yieldably urgingsaid shifter element into contact with said last named plunger and means associated with said first named plunger for yieldably urging said plunger and plate upwardly of said column.

6. In a motor vehiclehaving a power transmission and a steering column, apparatus for shifting gears in said transmission comprising a lever rockably mounted on said column, a shaft disposed longitudinally of said column and connected 'to' said lever, a plate fixedto the lower end of said shaft, a shifter element in said transmission, a Bowden cable assembly including a plunger connected to said plate and a plunger at the opposite end bearing against said shifter element, means associated with said shifter element for yieldably urging said shifter element into contact with said last named plunger and means associated with said shaft and said column for yieldably urging said shaft upwardly of said column.

'7. In a vehicle having a tubular steering column; power transmission mechanism comprising a plurality of speed ratio controlling devices, a housing carried by said column at the upper end thereof, a control shift lever having an end I, portion extending into said housing, means for mounting said lever on said housing for oscillation about the longitudinal axis of said steering column and rocking movement about an axis extending transversely of said longitudinal axis, a member extending longitudinally within said steering column shiftable axially thereof in response to movement of said lever about said transverse axis and rotatable relative to said steering column in response to movement of said lever about said longitudinal axis, an element for operating upon said speed ratio control devices to effect operation of a selected one thereof, a spring yieldably holding said element in position to operate, upon at least a selected one of said speed ratio controlling devices,

mechanism including a flexible cable responsive to one of said movements of said member moving said element against the action of said spring into operative relationship with respect to another of said speed ratio controlling devices, and mechanism responsive to the other movement of said member for actuating said element to effect operation of said last mentioned speed ratio, controlling device.

8. In a variable speed ratio power transmission comprising a plurality of members for establishing a plurality of difierent directions and speed ratio drives, a common movable shift member for selectively operably enga ing said plurality of members, yieldable means for yieldably pushing said shift member into operative engagement with one of said plurality of members, control mechanism for controlling the operation of said transmission comprising a plunger operably associated with said shift member, means for'actuating said plunger from a neutral position to move said shift member into operative engagement with another of said plurality of members including a rockable lever, and means for re storing said plunger and lever to said neutral position after actuation thereof. p

9. In a variable speed ratio power transmission comprising a plurality of members each of which is adapted to be reciprocated to establish a plurality'of different speed ratio drives, a common movable shift member for selectively operably engaging said plurality of members, yieldable means for urging said shift member into operative engagement with one of said plurality of members, rocking means for rocking said shift member to reciprocate said members, a lever for controlling said shift member, means operatively associated with said shift member and said lever whereby oscillation of said lever will actuate said rocking means and rocking of said lever will move said shift member against said yieldable urging means, said operatively associated means including means yieldably opposing rocking of said lever.

10. In a variable speed ratio power transmission comprising a plurality of members each of which is adapted to be reciprocated to establish a plurality of different speed ratio drives, a common movable shift member for selectively operably engaging said plurality of members, yieldable means for urging said shift member into operative engagement with one of said plurality of members, rocking means for rocking said shift member to reciprocate said members, a plate for controlling said shift member, a flexible cable having a plunger at each end thereof bearing against said shift member and said plate respectively whereby bodily movement of said plate will move said shift member against said yieldable urging means into engagement with another of said plurality of members, a link operatively connectingsaid plate and said rocking means, and yieldable means operatively associated with one of said plungers for resisting bodily movement of said plate.

11. In a variable speed ratio power transmission comprising a plurality of members each of which is adapted to be reciprocated to establish a plurality of difierent speed ratio drives, a common movable shift member for selectively operably engaging .said plurality of members, yieldable means for urging said shift member into operative engagement with one of said plurality of members, rocking means for rocking said shift member. to reciprocate said members, a plate for controlling said shift member, a flexible cable having a plunger at one end bearing against said shift member and a plunger at the other end connected to said plate by means of a pin and slot connection whereby bodily movement of said plate will move said shift member against said yieldable urging means into engagement with another of said plurality of members, a link operatively connecting said plate and said rocking means, a manually operable lever for bodily moving and for oscillating said plate, a shaft connecting said lever and said plate, and yieldable means operatively associated with said shaft for resisting said bodily movement.

JAMES R. MCCORDIC. 

